TRUSTEES
The Trustees are volunteers on the management committee that oversee the running of the charity. Being a small charity the role of a PPC trustee is quite hands-on and the members are involved in anything from discussing the strategic direction for the Centre to serving tea and cakes at our fundraising events.
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If you are curious about what a trustee at the PPC does, or perhaps you are keen to explore joining our board, please scroll down to the section at the foot of this page.
NADINE EDWARDS
I am a Trustee, member of the Birth Project Group and co-facilitator of the Birth Educators course.
I became involved in childbirth issues while I was pregnant with my first child in 1976 and quickly understood the impact of pregnancy and birth on women and families and the difference support and information can make. Through the yoga groups, I hope to contribute positively to women’s physical, emotional and spiritual experience of pregnancy, birth and early motherhood
I joined the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS) in 1980 after the birth of my third baby and am currently one of its Vice Chairs. I completed the first Birth Teacher’s Course through the West London Birth Centre in 1982 and have run pregnancy groups in Edinburgh since 1985.
I completed a PhD on women’s experiences of homebirths in 2002, which was published as a book, ‘Birthing Autonomy: Women’s Experiences of Planning Home Births’. I continue to research and write about birth issues in books and journals and was co-editor of the MIDIRS Midwifery Digest.
I live with my husband and am fortunate to be a mother of three grown up children, and Grannie to five beautiful grandchildren. My passions are my family, improving women’s and families’ experiences of birth and researching into and campaigning on the politics of birth and midwifery.
FAY NIKER
I found the PPC in early 2022, soon after my son was born. We initially attended the baby massage class, where we met such wonderful people that we continued coming back. When pregnant with my daughter, I attended the yoga for pregnancy classes and homebirth support group. The information, support, empowerment, and friendships that I gained through coming to the Centre were invaluable - it is hard to put in words what an impact it has had, directly and indirectly, on me and my family. I feel very grateful to be part of the PPC community and it was largely out of this gratitude that I joined the board of trustees in September 2024 to help support the continuation of the Centre's vital work in whatever ways I can.
I am an academic working at the University of Stirling. I research and teach on ethics and social and political philosophy. I am currently excited to be starting a new project exploring a range of questions concerning the ethics and politics of pregnancy and childbirth, and seeing where this might lead in terms of potential routes to practically helping to improve maternity care. I am also a member of NHS Lothian's Maternity Voices Partnership.
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SOPHIE MACPHAIL
Sophie has been part of the PPC family since, well before she was born! Her mum attended Nadine Edward's birth preparation sessions when pregnant!
After coming to the PPC with her children she has decided to join our board and became a trustee mid Summer 2024.
Sophie has a legal background which will be very useful to her fellow trustees and the charity as a whole.
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~ we will share more information about Sophie in due course ~
HELEN WILLIAMS
I joined the board of trustees in 2023 after I discovered the Pregnancy & Parents Centre way back in 2010 when I was pregnant with my first child Freyja and attend yoga for pregnancy. I loved the centre; I loved all the groups I attended with Freyja and then all the groups again with my second child Eli. It was such an integral part of my children’s early years and a place where I made incredible friendships which continue to this day. I felt at ease within the centre, with all the staff and supported throughout my time there; and my children loved it.
My partner and myself also attended the home birth support group as our second child Eli was born at home. The centre offered a unique level of support, knowledge and guidance around birthing which helped empower our choices and decisions.
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My background for a long time was in counselling and outdoor therapeutic groups work, mainly with teenagers and their families, with a focus on drug and mental health issues. From this I moved into social work and I am currently working in child protection. I also really enjoy putting on events and bringing communities together. I hope to use my skills in supporting the PPC in continuing to reach families.
~ HELEN IS ON SABBATICAL FROM OCTOBER 2025 ~
We look forward to welcoming her back in 2026
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A TRUSTEE?
We would love to hear from you. Please tell us a bit about yourself...